South Chicago father of 2 is shot, stabbed

December 13, 2009

Deshawn Patton would have turned 25 on Monday. His family had even thrown a surprise birthday party in his honor Saturday night at an aunt's home, relatives said.

But during the night, an argument broke out, and Patton, a father of two, was fatally stabbed and shot in an alley just down the street from his home in the South Chicago neighborhood, authorities and relatives said.

Patton was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Sunday.

The Cook County medical examiner's office said he died of multiple gunshot and stab wounds.

Police said they were called to the 2900 block of East 79th Street about 1:34 a.m. Sunday and discovered Patton lying in an alley.

Police believe the suspect stabbed Patton multiple times with a knife during an argument, said Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli, a spokesman.

Patton's sister, Shamar, 22, said detectives told the family that Deshawn Patton had been arguing in his home with a friend.

As he ran outside the home in the 3000 block of East 79th Street, someone threw a gun at him, hitting him in the head, relatives said.

Shamar Patton said police told the family that the suspect then chased her brother and stabbed him nearby.

Police would not comment on whether the victim was shot or struck with a gun.